Aguascalientes Attractions

History

It took the invading Spaniards until 1575, and then only at the end of a hard-fought campaign against the semi-nomadic native population, before they were able to establish a town here, bestowing on it the melodious-sounding name of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de las Aguas Calientes (the latter part, meaning "warm waters", reflecting the numerous thermal springs near by). For a long time it was little more than an outpost against hostile Indian tribes. When in 1857 a state of the Republic was created under the same name, Aguascalientes became the capital. As a major rail junction it was hotly contested during the years of revolution (1910-20), passing repeatedly from one side to the other.

Aguascalientes is also known as La Ciudad Perforada - "the perforated city" - on account of the labyrinth of passages extending beneath it. These catacombs, carved from the rock by pre-colonial Indians of unknown origin, are not at present open to the public.